This free character counter counts characters, words, sentences and paragraphs live as you type, and estimates reading and speaking time. It also checks your copy against the limits for SEO titles, meta descriptions, social posts and SMS, so writers, marketers and SEOs can fit the space before they publish.
- How to use the character counter
- What the counter measures
- Character limits that matter for SEO and social
- Characters with spaces or without spaces
- Reading time and speaking time: the math
- Keyword density: a check, not a target
- FAQ
- Related tools
How to use the character counter
- Type or paste your text into the box. Counts update on every keystroke, so there is no button to press.
- Read the main numbers first: characters with spaces, characters without spaces, words, sentences and paragraphs.
- Check the reading time and speaking time to see how long the text takes to read silently or say aloud.
- Look at the limit bars for SEO title, meta description, X post, SMS, Instagram caption and LinkedIn post. A bar fills as you approach the limit and warns when you pass it.
- Scroll to the keyword density list to see which ten words you use most. Edit the text and watch the numbers change, then copy the final version into your CMS or app.
Everything runs in your browser. The text you type is not uploaded or stored, so it is safe to check drafts, client copy or unpublished pages.
What the counter measures
Two totals: with spaces and without. Use the first for platform limits and the second for tasks that ignore spacing.
A live word count plus a sentence counter, handy for checking that copy is not made of long, tangled sentences.
Counts blocks of text separated by line breaks, which helps when a brief asks for a set number of paragraphs.
Estimated at 238 words per minute, an average silent reading pace for adults.
Estimated at 130 words per minute, a comfortable pace for a talk, a video script or a podcast read.
Shows your top ten words and how often each appears. Common stop words such as the, and and of are skipped.
Six preset bars: SEO title (60), meta description (160), X post (280), SMS (160), Instagram caption (2,200) and LinkedIn post (3,000).
Character limits that matter for SEO and social
A character counter earns its place when you write short, space-limited copy. These are the limits built into the tool and what each one is for.
| Where | Limit | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| SEO title | 60 | Longer titles are often cut off in search results. |
| Meta description | 160 | A common target; Google may show a different snippet anyway. |
| X post | 280 | Standard post length on X. |
| SMS | 160 | One standard text message; longer texts split into parts. |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 | Maximum caption length. |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 | Maximum post length. |
Be precise about the two SEO limits. Google does not enforce a character count. According to Google's guidance on title links, titles are shortened when they are too long for the space, and the snippet documentation says the same about descriptions. Width in pixels decides the cut, so 60 and 160 characters are safe working targets, not rules. Put the key point first and nothing important gets lost if the end is trimmed.
Characters with spaces or without spaces
The two totals answer different questions. Platforms that set a hard limit, such as X, SMS and meta fields in a CMS, count spaces. Some translation quotes, print layouts and academic forms count characters without spaces. Always check which one the brief means before you trust a number.
Here is a short example. The phrase Free SEO tools has 14 characters with spaces and 12 without, because two spaces are not counted in the second total. Over a long text the gap is roughly one character in every six, since the average word is about five letters followed by a space.
Line breaks need care too. A new line is a character in most systems, and an SMS with emoji or accented characters may fall to a smaller per-message limit than 160. If a message must fit one text, keep a small safety margin under the bar.
Reading time and speaking time: the math
If you need a quick reading time calculator for a blog post, the formula is simple: words divided by words per minute.
Reading time = words / 238 and Speaking time = words / 130
Worked example: a draft of 1,190 words takes 5 minutes to read (1,190 / 238) and about 9.2 minutes to say aloud (1,190 / 130). A 60-second video script should sit near 130 words. A five-minute talk lands near 650.
These are averages. Technical copy, tables and code slow people down, and skimmers read faster. Treat the figure as a planning aid. It is useful for a "5 min read" label, for trimming a script to fit a slot and for checking that a newsletter is not longer than your readers will tolerate. The same live word counter also helps when a client sets a minimum or maximum word range.
Keyword density: a check, not a target
Keyword density is how often a word appears compared with the total words:
Density % = (times the word appears / total words) x 100
Worked example: if "audit" appears 12 times in an 800-word page, density is 12 / 800 x 100 = 1.5%. The tool does this for your top ten words, after ignoring stop words, so you can see at a glance whether the page is about what you meant it to be about.
Use the list to catch two problems. First, a key term that never reaches the top ten means the page may not be focused on it. Second, a filler word or brand name that dominates the list can signal repetitive writing. Google does not publish an ideal density, so do not chase a percentage. Write naturally, cover the topic, and use the list as a proofreading aid.
Common mistake: counting a draft that still contains HTML, hidden formatting or navigation text. Paste plain body copy only, otherwise the word and character totals will be higher than the visible page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count characters in a text?
Paste the text into the box and read the characters total. The count updates instantly and shows both characters with spaces and characters without spaces. You can also check the same text against presets for a title, meta description, X post, SMS, Instagram caption and LinkedIn post at once.
Does a character counter count spaces?
Yes, it counts spaces in the main total and also shows a second figure without spaces. Social platforms, SMS and CMS fields count spaces, so use the first number for limits. Use the second only when a brief says characters excluding spaces.
What is the best length for an SEO title and meta description?
Aim for about 60 characters for a title and about 160 for a description. Google cuts text by pixel width rather than a fixed count, so these are practical targets. Put the main keyword and the benefit near the start so a trimmed result still makes sense.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is the word count divided by 238 words per minute. A 1,190-word article therefore reads in about 5 minutes. Speaking time uses 130 words per minute. Both are averages, so allow extra time for tables, code and complex subjects.
Is my text stored or sent anywhere?
No. The counter runs in your browser and your text never leaves your device. Nothing is uploaded, saved or logged, so you can paste private drafts, client copy or unpublished content without worry. Closing the tab clears the text, and nothing is kept between visits.
What does keyword density show?
It lists the ten most-used words in your text with a count and a percentage of total words, skipping common stop words. It helps you see what the text emphasizes and spot repetition. It is not a ranking score, and there is no density Google asks for.